Breathe Easy

When installing a new fireplace or replacing an existing one, the last thing homeowners want is to wade through the myriad bureaucratic levels of local, state, regional and federal clean air standards for home fireplace safety and emissions. Masonry Fireplace Industries, makers of Mason-Lite pre-cast modular masonry fireplace systems since 2005, utilizes more than 100 years of combined experience to take the worry out of fireplace installation and replacement. They understand the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, thus ensuring that your fireplace meets or exceeds EPA Phase 2 guidelines. After all, when you’re curled up in front of the fireplace enjoying the warmth and the crackling sounds of burning wood, the last thing on your mind is air quality.

Masonry Fireplace Industries strives to keep pace with changes in the industry and in emission standards and guidelines and have introduced the Pureburn line of home wood-burning units. All models meet or exceed EPA Phase 2 standards for residential fireplaces, giving you years of worry-free use. Our products are independently tested by the PFS Corporation testing agency to meet or exceed the EPA’s guidelines and National Fire Protection Association standards. Mason-Lite clean burning masonry fireplaces also meet UL 127 listed standards when installed according to manufacturer instructions.

Numerous studies have identified wood smoke as containing fine particles that can pose potentially serious public health risks. The Clean Air Act of 1970 has cut air pollution even as populations have risen. Yet today, according to the EPA, wood smoke from an estimated 12 million fireplaces and wood stoves continues to create significant health risks. In 2007 the EPA created the Burn Wise partnership program to ensure that cleaner outdoor wood-burning units are available to consumers. In October, 2008, the EPA moved to Phase 2 of the Burn Wise program and required that all residential wood-burning units installed after 1988 meet air quality guidelines.

Mason-Lite Pureburn fireplaces are designed to pass or surpass current air quality standards without the use of a catalytic converter, which can require mandatory annual maintenance and costly replacement during the life of the fireplace. Mason-Lite’s gas-assisted component eliminates the need for costly catalytic converters, thus reducing unit costs and installation time. In addition, Pureburn units have tested to 2.6 g/kg of emissions, placing them below voluntary EPA Phase 2 emission levels of 5.1 g/kg and making them more efficient that GreenTech Solutions Isokern units, once considered the industry gold standard.

The EPA Burn Wise program also emphasizes the importance of lowering emissions through education on proper wood-burning practices through simple changes to their fire-starting and -burning routines Suggestions include choosing the best types of wood for burning, burning only well-seasoned wood that has been split properly, maintaining consistently hot fires, and using proper wood storage practices. (Visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/pdfs/strategies.pdf for more tips and ways to maintain a safe-burning fireplace.)

Homebuyers will pay extra for a fireplace, considered by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association to be among the top three desired features requested by new home buyers (1). Mason-Lite Pureburn units can result in savings of up to 50 percent over hand-built masonry fireplaces. Mason-Lite concrete fire boxes are the lightest in in their class in terms of weight and highest in terms of heat-resistant strength. Because of our lightweight design, Mason-Lite Pureburn units can be installed throughout multi-level homes.

Masonry Fireplace Industries will custom build units to your specifications. We also offer gas-burning fireplaces, vent-free fireplaces, fire pits, the Toscana wood-fired pizza oven, and masonry accessories. For more information on bringing the beauty and warmth of a clean-burning fireplace into your home or business, visit www.mason-lite.com or call 800-345-7078. We can also be found at www.Facebook.com/MasonLite, www.YouTube.com/MasonLiteFireplaces, or follow us at www.Twitter.com/MasonLiteFir

Over the years we have had many inquiries pertaining to offering certain complementary products. We are excited to present some new additions to our Mason-Lite Price-list that we feel will really benefit the sales of our products.

First, We are proud to announce that our “Pure-Burn” EPA Phase II Fireplace is coming on to the market. Currently we are offering the burner and grate system to be retrofitted into our MFP44. For more information on this unit please contact us.

Second, We have added additional products to our Accessories and Dampers. We have added the see-thru air kit (MFPST-AK) for both see-through units as well as custom units with square sides. We have added our new arch for use with the MFP63 (MFP-ARC63). We are also expanding our cast iron dampers to include all of our standard sizes (33″-63″). Note: The MFP-CC56 is a custom made damper.

Third, We have added our both our Masonry Chimney Cap (MMC-14) as well as our Fire Ring Cap (MFR-CAP) to the second page. Our masonry chimney cap acts as a spark arrestor as well as a rain/debris shield for our masonry chimney systems. The fire ring cap was added because our Unfinished Fire Ring does not include a cap because the customer has the option of using their own finishing material.

Lastly, We have added the Roof Radiation Shield (##DCA-RRS) as well as the Attic Insulation Shield (##DCA-IS) under the DuraChimney packages. We have found these to be very beneficial to the chimney systems.

These changes will take effect in September. Please contact us with any questions you may have about these changes.

We are excited to announce that we have successfully moved the location of our production facility. A few of you may have experienced our extended lead times during our moving process. We apologize for an inconvenience this may have caused but it was truly unavoidable. Now that we are fully moved, you will see our lead times lowering back to before the move. With our new factory layout, we have the potential to have even lower lead times than ever before!We have also invested in new tooling and equipment to improve our quality.

For those of you that do not know, our new factory is now located at

6391 Jurupa Ave, Riverside, CA 92504-1140, United States

All orders will now be shipping from this location. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 1-800-345-7078

We have decided to change the brick we use for our firebrick panels. We have had a little trouble with blemishes in our old firebrick.

The new brick will not only have practically no blemishes but it is also a stronger brick. This will ensure an even higher quality of product than we are already supplying you. We chose the closest color to our old brick which is a gold. We have had a great response to the color so far. I have attached a photo of our old brick and our new brick for a visual. The best part is the price of the panels will not be effected by this change!

We will start shipping this new brick this week. Please note that we will not mix any old brick and new brick in your current or future orders.

A fireplace can be an appealing addition to any room, home, or business. However, some people find that a traditional, flat-front style fireplace does not meet their needs. As a result, more people are installing corner space-saving wood burning fireplaces in their dwellings or businesses.

Mason-Lite specializes in all sizes and styles of fireplaces, including smaller units that tuck neatly in a corner. Our team of fireplace experts can listen to your space needs and help you pick the right wood burning fireplace for your business or home.

We are always happy to learn from our readers.

What factors motivated you to choose a corner fireplace?

What are the advantages of a corner wood burning design?

Reason #1: Enjoy Fireplace Ambiance and Comfort Anywhere

Do you live in a condominium, narrow town house, or older home? In these dwellings, and many others, floor space is limited. If your rooms have a small footprint, you may think installing a wood burning fireplace is not a good option for you. However, a corner wood burning unit can fit comfortably in any vacant corner.

Even if you have large rooms, you can consider subdividing them into cozy seating or reading areas, accented with a corner fireplace. You can have all the furniture and floor space you need, while having the relaxing comfort of a crackling fire to warm your loved ones on cold days.

Reason #2 Save Floor Space

A traditional flat-front fireplace takes up a lot of floor and wall space. This style, while very classic, can limit your ability to add furniture or decorations to accent your room. A corner wood burning fireplace is the best option when space is a premium. It takes up very little wall space and does not project as far out into your room.

Before you build a corner-style fireplace, or any fireplace, you need to consider your room layout carefully. You need to contemplate more than just the size of the fireplace unit itself. Think about normal traffic flow through the room. Be sure your fireplace location is at least 36 inches from any combustible wall that lacks protection. If you add a wall protector, you may be able to reduce the clearance to 12 inches. Also, you should plan for a non-combustible hearth extension on the front and side of the unit. In addition, you might want to consider devoting space to wood and fire-tending tool storage for added convenience.

Reason #3 Add Style to Your Interior Design

Corner fireplaces are rapidly growing in popularity.Those with interior decorating flair recognize the value of space-saving wood burning corner fireplaces. A corner set up leaves more wall space open for furniture. They can also provide essential warmth to a room. Because of their compressed size, corner fireplaces can fit in more rooms—such as bathrooms and kitchens.

In many cases, homeowners want their wood burning corner fireplace to be the focal point of their room. In this scenario, adding a mantle or attractive surround can draw attention to a wood burning fireplace in any corner. Savvy home decorators suggest that homeowners can use lighting, artwork, or even an flat screen TV near a small corner fireplace to ensure it rises to focal point status.

Decorating experts recommend that homeowners consider furniture placement layout before installing wood burning fireplace in a corner. Creating a comfortable living space should be the paramount goal. You can achieve this by ensuring the furniture pieces you plan to use most to face the fireplace. Also, consider using area rugs and furniture groupings to match the angle of your wood burning corner fireplace. If you are working with a very small seating space, using lightweight or swivel chairs can create a corner conversation area near your wood burning fireplace that you can reconfigure with ease.

You can also use a corner fireplace to fill out empty spaces in a large room. In addition, if you have a awkward or unbalanced room architecture, a wood burning corner fireplace can help provide a grounded, balanced look.

Reason #4: Create an Inviting Business Environment

Wood burning fireplaces tucked in a corner are not only appealing for a home—they can be great for your business too. Whether a business owner has a professional office or a retail location, having a corner wood burning fireplace can provide a welcoming environment for clients. For example, since a fireplace conjures a home-like feeling, having a corner wood burning fireplace in a medical office can put patients at ease before appointments.

These days, fireplaces are often found in restaurants, since they help patrons relax and enjoy their meal. Wood burning corner fireplaces can also create a soothing mood in salons and other spaces. If you operate any type of business, think of the many benefits a corner wood burning fireplace can bring.

When shopping for a corner wood burning fireplace, you should seek top-quality advice. At Mason-Lite we have more than 100 years combined experience in the fireplace industry and can provide you with all the information you need. We are recognized as one of the top providers of modular fireplaces—including corner models.

If you already have a corner wood burning fireplace in your home or business, we would love to hear about your experience

What helped you choose a corner-style fireplace over a traditional model?

What decorating tips do you have for people who want a corner fireplace?

Mason-lite is proud to announce that we had a great time at the HPBA show this year. We would like to thank HPBA for their great hospitality this and every year. Salt Lake City Utah was a breathtaking choice of location for the show.

HPBA 2014 was an outstanding representation of our industry and the key players in it. We would also like to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to meet with us. We had a VERY busy schedule in a great way! We were excited to see an increase in attendance from the recent years.

The HPBA Show is always high on our schedule and we look forward to seeing all of the familiar faces next year, as well as new ones. HPBA 2015 here we come!!!

We would like to take this time to announce some very important reminders about the installation of our fireplaces. We have very specific instructions in our manuals that pertain to not only the installation process but also the curing instructions following the installation. We understand that the dealer and/or the installer will not always be able to instruct the homeowner of the importance of the curing process. We have developed a label to be left inside of each unit after the installation for the eyes of the homeowner. This label explains the importance of the unit having 28 days to dry before being used. After which, 2 small fires are to be started before standard use. We have attached this label below with more information. Please contact us with any questions about this process and or the label.

Here at Mason-Lite we strive to offer the best products possible for your masonry fireplace needs. To make that possible we are constantly improving our products. Recently we have made two such changes that we believe will benefit the use and installation process of our products.

The first change we have made is to our mortar. We decided to reformulate our mortar to offer the best quality for masonry fireplace installations. This new mixture meets and exceeds the ASTM C-199 rating for high-temperature mortar. ICC has recently updated their requirements for masonry fireplace installations to include this rating.

The second change that we have made is to our T-Bar that supports our lintel system. We have heard from our installers that the lintel length is slightly too long for a flush installation. We have decreased the length to make sure that every installation is flush, yet very well supported. Another change we have made to our T-Bars is the addition of metal lath to the top of the T-Bar. This helps bond the T-Bar to the lentil with our new and improved masonry mortar.

Both of these changes will be included in all units produced after January 1, 2014. We enjoy bringing you the best products possible and we encourage all of our customers to give us any feed back that will help us do so.

This August we had a great turn out with the Orange County Chapter at our most recent CES (continuing education system) meeting. We had a lot of fun presenting the safe and successful installation practices of masonry fireplaces. We went over topics such as building codes and compliance’s, clearances to combustibles, custom fireplace installations, and most importantly safe practices while installing masonry fireplaces. We enjoyed hearing the first hand accounts of architects and there experiences with masonry fireplaces. We plan on having many more architect luncheons. These are a great way for us to spread the knowledge we have on the topic of masonry fireplace installations. The principals of Mason-Lite fireplaces have over 110 years of experience in the fireplace industry. Contact us for more information on our CES program and if there is one near you.

Display units are available and encouraged for all of our Distributors and Dealers. Our products that we offer for Display units include Fireplaces, Fire Rings, Pizza Ovens, Unfinished Fire Ring, the Patio Bar, the Fireplace Surround. We would love to get pictures of any finished display units.

-Point of sales displays

Our point of sales displays are 20″ by 10″ Laminated Foam board. They are available for locations already offering our products. In the past couple months we have been developing point of sales displays that we encourage our dealers, distributors and also our sales reps to use to help show our products. Our first point of sale display shows our Fireplace, Fire Ring, and Pizza Oven. This is great for showing our most popular products in finished form. Our second point of sales display we created to show the installation side of our fireplaces. It is very important to us to let the customers know just how easy it is to install our products.

-Miniature Fireplace Display

Our Miniature Fireplace displays are a great tool for our Distributors. The Miniature Fireplace display is perfect for a countertop display. This is a great visual aid for people who are not familiar with our products and would like a quick hands on experience.

-Most recent brochures and changes

We are constantly updating and adding new sales brochures to help our customers visualize our products and their applications. Recently we have made minor changes to both the 4 Page Brochure and the bifold brochure. We have updated the pictures to show the most recent look of our units and accessories(Arch and Masonry Chimney). We have also created a mailer specific to linear style units. This mailer is great to target architects because it sparks their creativity and they enjoy being able to design units to their specifications.

-New products- fire ring, patio bar and fireplace surround

We have added three new products to our extensive Product mix. These products are the Unfinished Fire Ring, Patio bar, the Fireplace Surround. The Fire Ring is an 8 piece set that easily fit together to create an unfinished Fire Ring. The Patio Bar is a grouping of panels that interlock with brackets to create a unique patio bar layout to meet any custom design. Lastly, the Fireplace Surround make an easy installation that will allow any type of finish to be installed on the exterior of the fireplace such as rock, veneer, stucco and more. We are working on sales literature for our newest products and will have them available soon.

-Social Media

In closing, we want everyone to be aware of our four major forms of social media networks that we are involved with. These networks include our Website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube We encourage you to join our Facebook and Twitter pages to help promote and extend our reach.